Antique Gold Damascened 18th - 19th Century Indo Persian Islamic Axe

Exquisite gold damascened antique, 18th-19th century, Indo - Persian Islamic axe, entirely made of well hand-forged steel, including a large crescent-shaped blade, decorated on each side with hand-chiseled cartouches with Arabic "nasta'liq"calligraphy among scrolled arabesques and highlighted by a gold koftgari inlay including the edges of the blade.

The protruding rear-hammer and central block are also chiseled with calligraphic scripts and highlighted in gold koftgari (worn) and surmounted with a silver inlay central bulbous pommel.

It is mounted on its handmade cylindrical steel haft with a mushroom-shaped pommel adorned with silver koftgari scrolls and chiseled with a spiral design.

The axe head is hand-forged from high carbon steel; when axe blade is tapped with a finger, it rings beautifully for quite a long time in a bright, clear tone.

CONDITION: Showing age and usage. In excellent condition for an antique steel axe that is approximately 200 years old.

MEASUREMENTS

Overall length: 74.5cm (29.33 inches)

Height of the blade: 18.5 cm (7.28 inches)

REFERENCE: A similar axe from the Ferenc Hopp Museum of Asiatic Arts collection in Budapest, Hungary and dated by the museum experts to the 18th -19th is published in the book, Artisans at the Crossroads. Page 171.

The buyer will be provided with a copy of the pages from the mentioned references, together with a certificate of authenticity.

PROVENANCE: Acquired from an old Canadian Collection of Islamic Art, including Muslim arms and armor.